Vehicle Description
With all the talk of investment-grade 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace
Cars, it's intimidating to think about buying one of those 0-mile
artifacts and driving it on the road. But that's completely
overlooking the fact that they're great drivers, and the handsome
silver and black paint scheme is one of the better-looking Corvette
pace cars of all time. If you've always wanted one, but find that
they're always priced out of reach, or just would like to have one
to drive and enjoy, here's the answer.
This car is a nicely presented driver quality pace car, showing
19,117 original miles. Compared to most pace cars, that's a bit of
driving, but that's still a fraction of most '70s 'Vettes. As a
result, it's in very condition throughout, and features a lot of
originality, which is important to Corvette fans. It's a little
faded, but if you're like us, you like the idea of a car that
hasn't been messed with and you know there are no surprises waiting
for you under the paint. The 'glass is in great shape and as a pace
car, it got the full treatment: hood accents, door decals, and the
red pinstripe around the perimeter. There's some fading on the
decals, too, but again, originality matters and they're still nice
enough that we'd probably leave them alone. In fact, this car is in
ideal condition to just get in and start having fun!
The silver leather interior was a trademark of Bill Mitchell's
design, and looks surprisingly good in this two-tone Corvette. The
seats carry unusual cloth inserts, which was a rare option, and
they're in good shape. GM used decent quality materials in these
cars, and the seating surfaces are in good condition with less wear
than you'd expect on a car of this age. Carpets are in decent shape
thanks to a set of matching floor mats, and the center console
hasn't cracked due to age or UV exposure. This car also includes
the cool period AM/FM/CB stereo system, which was an option in
1978, and a power antenna in the tail. Other features include cold
A/C, a tilt/telescopic wheel, power windows, and those unique
mirrored T-tops.
The engine is a great-running L82, which was the top motor in 1978.
A lifetime in a warm climate is to thank for the excellent
condition of the engine and undercarriage, and there's no sign of
rust or damage. Wearing a coat of blue engine paint, the small
block V8 is nicely detailed with finned valve covers and the
L82-specific twin-snorkel air cleaner. Even the smog pump is still
intact, something that was frequently removed on cars that were
driven, but it remains in place and fully functional here. The
transmission is a TH350 3-speed automatic, and the chassis shows
signs of recent maintenance and no winter use. Wheels are the
slotted aluminum units that were standard equipment on the pace
cars, wearing a set of fat 255/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials.
With good power and smashing good looks, these cars attract a lot
of attention wherever they go. In this day and age, it's kind of
refreshing to see one of these on the road instead of locked away
as an investment; after all, they were built to be driven. Take
this one home and find out what great cars these really are. Call
now!